Leaders Emerge for Northridge in Soccer Victory

The offense collected five goals and the defense didn’t allow a score. Either one of those achievements is usually enough to make a soccer coach proud.

But after Cal State Northridge’s season-opening win over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday night, Matador Coach Marwan Ass’ad was beaming over a slightly less tangible part of his team’s performance.

Midfielders Teddy Davila, Armando Valdivia and Adolfo Perez each scored a goal in the 5-0 win at Northridge but, more important to Ass’ad, they also combined to display the leadership qualities their coach has been looking for.

“I’m happy that the Three Amigos set a great example out there,” Ass’ad said. “They took charge. Last year, we didn’t have any real leaders on this team. This year, we do.”

In addition, forward Danny Daniels came off the bench to score a goal and assist on another. Daniels, Northridge’s leading scorer the past two seasons, was not expected to play after suffering back spasms last week.

“The season is short,” Daniels said of his decision to play. “I wasn’t trying to be stupid and come back too soon, but this is my senior season, and I don’t want to miss any matches if I don’t have to.”

Daniels, who had 32 points on 13 goals and six assists last year, scored 30 seconds before halftime to give the Matadors a 3-0 lead.

Although Daniels said he was not back at full strength, he was still more than the Toros could handle, taking a pass from Valdivia in full stride about 30 yards in front of the goal. He then fended off a defender and fired a shot past goalie Erick Miseroy.

Miseroy, a junior from Granada Hills High, was busy most of the first half as Northridge kept the ball in Dominguez Hills’ end of the field.

Davila opened the scoring before the crowd of 868, 20 heading the ball into the net after Miseroy had blocked a shot by Dominic Zapata 20 minutes 33 seconds into the match. Perez gave the Matadors a 2-0 lead five minutes later when he scored off an indirect kick from 25 yards.

Daniels’ goal closed out the first-half scoring but Northridge took a 4-0 lead 10 minutes into the second half when Valdivia scored on a rebound.

Zapata gave the Matadors their final goal with nine minutes left.